OUR CORRESPONDENT
TEZPUR: In pursuance of an order received from the Director, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department of the Government of Assam, in connection with prevention of spread of classical Swine Fever/ African Swine Fever in pork/ pig population and to take all precautionary measures to stop the virus from spreading to other areas of the district, the District Magistrate, Sonitpur, promulgated Section 144 CrPC. There is prohibition on certain activities in the infected zone and surveillance zones under the Sonitpur district with immediate effect.
In this connection, Naharbari under Dhekiajuli Development Block has been identified as the epicentre of the infected zone and an area within 1 km radius of this zone has been identified as infected area, with Maz-Rowmari Joradia Road to the east, Amtol Bhergaon to the west, Maz-Rowmari Bazar to the North and Naharbari Koch Gaon to the south marking the area.
As such, no live pigs, pig feed, pork or pork products shall be allowed to be taken out of or brought into the zone; no carrier of goods or animals shall carry any animals out of the infected zone; carriage of animals (pigs) through roadways or railways through the declared infected Zone is however allowed subject so long the animal is not unloaded in any place within the zone till the issuance of sanitization certificate by the competent Veterinary authority; no person is allowed to take out any pig alive or dead which is infected or suspected to be infected from African swine fever; no person is allowed to carry pig feed or bedding materials or other materials namely carcass, skin or other parts or product of such animal which has come in contact with any animal infected or suspected to be infected from African swine fever; no person, organization or institution shall hold any animal market, animal fair, animal exhibition and carry on any activity which involves grouping or gathering of pigs within the zone; no person shall bring or attempt to bring into the market, fair, exhibition or other congregation or to any public place any of pigs which infected or suspected to be infected with African swine fever.
Moreover, the Chief Veterinary Officer or competent Officer, if he thinks fit that an animal (pig) is infected with African swine fever and euthanasia has to be resorted to, for preventing the spread of the disease to other pigs of the area, will issue direction in writing for euthanasia of the animal in the infected zone and carcass to be disposed of in a manner to protect public health and hygiene.
The order also prohibits discarding of pig carcass in rivers or any other water body and any person found guilty shall be liable to be punished by imprisonment or fine or both.
For the purpose of carrying out intensive surveillance of the pig population in areas around the infected zone, a surveillance zone within 10 km radius of the infected zone has been identified for the purpose, with Sapoi TE to the east, Pachnoi to the west, Hugrajuli Railway Station to the north and Sirajuli to the south. All villages falling within 10 km radius of the infected zone will fall under the surveillance zone and all pigs in this area will be subjected to intensive surveillance, including domestic pig population adjacent to the forest areas.
The order will come into force with immediate effect and will remain in force until further order. Any violation of this order will be punishable U/S 188 IPC.
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